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SAP2000, ETABSand Revit Structure 2014
Data Exchange Documentation
ISO XRV070113M1 Rev. 0

Berkeley, California, USA
Version 2014
June 2013
Copyright
Copyright Computers and Structures, Inc., 2013
All rights reserved.
The CSI Logo, ETABS and SAP2000 are registered trademarks of Computers and Structures,
Inc. Watch & LearnTM is a trademark of Computers and Structures, Inc. Revit is a registered
trademark of Autodesk.
The computer program ETABS and SAP2000 and all associated documentation are proprietary
and copyrighted products. Worldwide rights of ownership rest with Computers and Structures,
Inc. Unlicensed use of the program or reproduction of the documentation in any form, without
prior written authorization from Computers and Structures, Inc., is explicitly prohibited.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or
stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior explicit written permission of the
publisher.
Further information and copies of this documentation may be obtained from:
Computers and Structures, Inc.
www.csiamerica.com
info@csiamerica.com (for general information)
support@csiamerica.com (for technical support)
DISCLAIMER
CONSIDERABLE TIME, EFFORT AND EXPENSE HAVE GONE INTO THE DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF
THIS SOFTWARE. HOWEVER, THE USER ACCEPTS AND UNDERSTANDS THAT NO WARRANTY IS EXPRESSED
OR IMPLIED BY THE DEVELOPERS OR THE DISTRIBUTORS ON THE ACCURACY OR THE RELIABILITY OF THIS
PRODUCT.
THIS PRODUCT IS A PRACTICAL AND POWERFUL TOOL FOR STRUCTURAL DESIGN. HOWEVER, THE USER
MUST EXPLICITLY UNDERSTAND THE BASIC ASSUMPTIONS OF THE SOFTWARE MODELING, ANALYSIS,
AND DESIGN ALGORITHMS AND COMPENSATE FOR THE ASPECTS THAT ARE NOT ADDRESSED.
THE INFORMATION PRODUCED BY THE SOFTWARE MUST BE CHECKED BY A QUALIFIED AND
EXPERIENCED ENGINEER. THE ENGINEER MUST INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE RESULTS AND TAKE
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INFORMATION THAT IS USED.
Introduction
This document describes how to exchange Building Information Modeling (BIM) data between
Revit Structure 2014 and ETABS 2013 or later and SAP2000 15.1.0 or later.
This document is divided into two sections. The first section addresses specifics pertaining to
data exchange between Revit Structure and ETABS. The second section addresses specifics
pertaining to data exchange between Revit Structure and SAP2000.
Data exchange between CSiXRevit and ETABS supports four different workflows:
1) Exporting from Revit Structure to create a new ETABS model.
2) Exporting from Revit Structure to update an existing ETABS model.
3) Importing from ETABS to create a new Revit Structure project.
4) Importing from ETABS to update an existing Revit Structure project. In this case,
you may choose to only update locations, only update designs, or update both.
Data exchange between CSiXRevit and SAP2000 supports two different workflows:
1) Exporting from Revit Structure to create a new SAP2000 model.
2) Importing from SAP2000 to create a new Revit Structure project.
The flow of information is idealized in the schematic below:
Export from Revit Structure to create a new ETABS or SAP2000 model.

Export from Revit Structure to update an existing ETABS model.
ETABS (or SAP2000)

Revit Structure
Import from ETABS or SAP2000 to create a new Revit Structure project.

Import from ETABS to update an existing Revit Structure project.
Revit Structure and ETABS Data Exchange

Data exchange between CSiXRevit and ETABS supports four different workflows:
1) Exporting from Revit Structure to create a new ETABS model.
2) Exporting from Revit Structure to update an existing ETABS model.
3) Importing from ETABS to create a new Revit Structure project.
4) Importing from ETABS to update an existing Revit Structure project.
Supported Workflows
Exporting from Revit Structure to create a new ETABS model
The table below provides an overview of the data imported in ETABS when exporting from Revit
to create a new ETABS model:
Action
Creation of
Project Element
Supported
Grid Lines
Story Levels
Materials
Structural Columns and
Structural Framing
Notes
Transfers geometry, offsets, cardinal points,

and end releases into ETABS. Imports
columns based on splice information in
ETABS.
Steel Column and

Framing Family Types
Creates and maps equivalent ETABS frame

sections. Makes Auto-Select Lists in ETABS for
all families used in the Revit project.
Creates and maps equivalent ETABS frame
sections.
Concrete Column
and Framing Family
Types
Walls
Wall Family Types
Slanted walls not imported.

Creates and maps equivalent ETABS wall
sections.
Wall Openings
Floors
Sloped floors with more than four outer

corners are projected on a horizontal plane.
Creates and maps equivalent ETABS slab and
deck sections.
Floor Family Types

Floor Openings
Footings
Creates fixed joint restraints in ETABS

wherever a footing occurs in Revit.
Point Loads
Line Loads
Area Loads
Load Cases
Non-uniform area loads not imported.

Creates both an ETABS load pattern and load
case for each Revit load case.
Load Combos
Grids
The following Grid attributes are created in ETABS:
Grid Name: The same grid name is used in the ETABS grid bubble.
Grid Points: The start and end points are used to define the general grid line in ETABS.
Curved Grid: The center point, radius, start angle and aperture are used to define the
circular grid line in ETABS.
Materials
The following material attributes are created in ETABS:
Material Name: The same name is used in ETABS.
Material Type: The Revit material type is used to identify the ETABS material type,
namely Concrete, Steel or Other.
Youngs Modulus: The Youngs modulus values from Revit set the ETABS material
Youngs modulus (E). These three values (for the three different directions) cannot be
zero in ETABS. If the first value is zero, then the default ETABS value is used. If any of the
remaining two are zero, then the first non-zero value is used. For an isotropic material,
the first value is used for all other directions.
Poissons Ratio: Poissons Ratio values from Revit set the ETABS material Poissons Ratio
(u). These three values (for the three different directions) cannot be zero in ETABS. If the
first value is zero, then the default ETABS value is used. If any of the remaining two are
zero, then the first non-zero value is used. For an isotropic material, the first value is
used for all other directions.
Shear Modulus: Shear Modulus value from Revit set the ETABS material Shear Modulus
(G). If the Revit material is defined as isotropic, then ETABS calculates this value on the
basis of the Youngs Modulus and the Poissons Ratio. In the case of an orthotropic
material, these three values (for the three different directions) cannot be zero in ETABS.
If the first value is zero, then the default ETABS value is used. If any of the remaining two
are zero, then the first non-zero value is used.
Thermal Expansion Coefficient: The thermal expansion coefficient from Revit sets the
ETABS material thermal expansion coefficient (Alpha). These three values (for the three
different directions) cannot be zero in ETABS. If the first value is zero, then the default
ETABS value is used. If any of the remaining two values are zero, then the first non-zero
value is used. For an isotropic material, the first value is used for all other directions.
Weight Density and Mass Density: The unit weight value from Revit sets the ETABS
material weight density (w) and mass density (m). In ETABS, the mass density is
calculated by dividing the weight density by the gravitational constant (g). The weight
density cannot be zero in ETABS. If the unit weight is zero in Revit, then the default
ETABS densities are used.
Damping Ratio: This value is not in used in the current version of ETABS.
Bending Reinforcement: The bending reinforcement value from Revit sets the ETABS
material main reinforcement Fy if the type is concrete. If this value is zero in Revit, then
the default ETABS value is used.
Shear Reinforcement: The shear reinforcement value from Revit sets the ETABS material
shear reinforcement Fy if the type is concrete. If this value is zero in Revit, then the
default ETABS value is used.
Resistance Calculation Strength: The resistance calculation strength from Revit sets the
ETABS material fc factor. If this value is zero in Revit, then the default ETABS value is
used.
Behavior: The Revit behavior tag is used to identify the isotropic or orthotropic materials
in ETABS.
Concrete Compression: The concrete compression value from Revit sets the ETABS
material fc if the type is concrete.
Lightweight: The Revit lightweight tag is used to identify the lightweight concrete
material in ETABS.
Shear Strength Reduction: This value is not in used in the current version of ETABS.
Yield Stress: The yield stress value from Revit sets the ETABS material yielding stress Fy if
the type is steel. If this value is zero in Revit, then the default ETABS value is used.
Tensile Strength: The tensile stress value from Revit sets the ETABS material ultimate
stress Fu if the type is steel. If this value is zero in Revit, then the default ETABS value is
used.
Steel Reduction Factor: This value is not in used in the current version of ETABS.
Only those materials linked with floors, walls, or frames in the Revit project are imported
into ETABS.
ETABS writes a warning in the .wrn file it writes when a default value is used while importing
materials from the Revit project.
Structural Columns and Framing

The following Revit Structure column and framing element attributes are imported into
ETABS:
Frame Curves: Straight framing elements are imported as straight ETABS frame objects.
Curved framing elements that are not arc shaped are imported as series of short ETABS
objects based on the lines defining their analytical models. Arc shaped framing elements
are imported as arc shaped ETABS line objects.
Frame End Points and Curves: For straight column and framing elements and curved
framing elements other than arc shaped, the coordinates of the end points of the lines
defining the analytical model of the element are retrieved and ETABS joint objects with
identical coordinates are created. When the analytical model of an element includes rigid
links, the ETABS joint objects are created at the ends of the rigid links with ETABS joints
offsets created to model the link. For arc shaped framing elements, the coordinates of the
end points of the elements themselves are imported instead of the end points of their
analytical models because these analytical models consist of series of short straight
segments and such a tessellation is not required in ETABS 2013. Columns are imported
with the Local Axis 1 always pointing up, and beams and braces with their Local Axis 1
always in the first quadrant, which means that the end joints may have been switched
compared to the Revit end points. Multi-story columns and braces are automatically
broken into several single story ETABS frame objects. This is required for reporting and
design.
Frame Sections: The family type assigned to the Revit element is imported along with the
whole family. ETABS converts the Revit family to an ETABS auto selection list.
End Releases: End releases defined in the element analytical models are imported into
ETABS. ETABS restricts releases that would cause an analytical instability, such as for
example torsion released at both ends. When that happens, ETABS writes a warning in
the .wrn file it writes. When ETABS joints have been switched compared to Revit end
points, end releases are also switched.
Insertion Points: In Revit, the beam insertion point is defined by the following two
parameters:
o Z-Direction Justification
o Lateral Justification
ETABS calculates the corressponding cardinal point on the basis of these two parameters.
If these parameters are not defined for a beam then the default cardinal, Top Center, is
chosen. Columns and braces are imported with a Middle Center insertion point.
End Offsets: When the analytical model of an element includes rigid links, these are
imported as end offsets. You can visualize them by looking at the model in extruded view.
In addition, when a beam has its z-Direction Justification parameter set to Other, an
additional vertical offset is created at both ends of the ETABS frame object based on the
value of the z-Direction Offset parameter. Other beam offset parameters such as Start
Level Offset and End Level Offset are not taken into consideration because, except for arc
shaped members, end joints are located based on the end points of the analytical model
which already reflects the values of these parameters. When ETABS joints have been
switched compared to Revit end points, end offsets are also switched.
Orientation Angles: The ETABS Local Axis 2 Angle of columns is computed based on their
rotation as internally stored in Revit Structure. The ETABS Local Axis 2 Angle of beams and
braces is computed based on the value of their Cross-Section Rotation parameter. When
ETABS joints have been switched compared to Revit end points, rotations are adjusted
accordingly.
Frame Sections
The mapping of Revit frame section attributes depends upon their type.
ETABS first tries to find the name of the section in its database. Most steel sections can be
mapped automatically. If a section is not found in the database, ETABS tries to create these
sections parametrically.
ETABS maps sections through the following steps:
1) ETABS first tries to map Revit family sections to the currently loaded ETABS database by
comparing section names. If it finds a match then that section is mapped. All geometric
cross sectional properties are used from the ETABS section. Blank spaces are always
removed and upper/lower cases dissimilarities are ignored when comparing names.
2) Next, ETABS tries to map Revit family sections to a section in the ETABS section property
files (.XML) by comparing section names. If ETABS finds a section with a matching name,
then that section is used along with all its geometric cross sectional properties. In the
absence of an exact name match, ETABS looks for a close match where the Revit name
contains the ETABS name. The user is given the option to add/remove or change the
search order of the property files during the import into ETABS from the Revit project. In
Figure 1, UC356x406x287 section is loaded from BSShapes.XML.
10
Figure 1: Import of sections from section property files (.XML files)
Figure 2: Adding /Removing XML files when importing into ETABS
3) If a Revit Family section cannot be mapped to an ETABS section from any of the property
files, then ETABS checks if it is a Revit parametric section. If it is a parametric section,
ETABS creates an equivalent section and names it after the Revit family section.
4) If a Revit family section is not parametrically defined, then a new ETABS section named
after the Revit family section is created with default ETABS section properties. The user
has the option to add a new parametric section as a replacement section or to load a
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new section from any other section property file(.XML) that is not in the properties file
(.XML) list.
5) The user has the option to save a mapping file which can then be reused on subsequent
imports. A sample mapping file is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Section mapping file
6) Some European family names do not map with the ETABS sections in European
properties file (.XML) due to prefix/suffix incompatibility. For Revit Structure families
with Universal Columns or Universal Beams categories, ETABS changes the suffix to
prefix when importing.
12
The parameters list is given for concrete and wood structural families in the following table.
Member Type
CONCRETE
COLUMNS
CONCRETE
FRAMING
Family Name
CONCRETE-RECTANGULARCOLUMN
CONCRETE-ROUND-COLUMN
CONCRETE-SQUARECOLUMN
PRECAST-RECTANGULAR
COLUMN
PRECAST-DOUBLE TEE
PRECAST-INVERTED TEE
PRECAST-L SHAPED BEAM
PRECAST-RECTANGULAR
BEAM
PRECAST-SINGLE TEE
WOOD
COLUMNS
WOOD
FRAMING
DIMENSION LUMBERCOLUMN
GLULAM-SOUTHERN PINECOLUMN
GLULAM-WESTERN SPECIESCOLUMN
PSL-PARALLEL STRAND
LUMBER-COLUMN
TIMBER-COLUMN
DIMENSION LUMBER
GLULAM-SOUTHERN PINE
GLULAM-WESTERN SPECIES
LVL-LAMINATED VENEER
LUMBER
TIMBER
OPEN WEB JOIST
PLYWOOD WEB JOIST
Table 1: Parameters used in ETABS
13
Parameters
B, H
B
B
B, H CHAMFER
WIDTH, TEE WIDTH,
STEM WIDTH, SLAB
DEPTH, DEPTH
H1, H, B, SEAT
H1, H, B, SEAT
B, H
WIDTH, STEM
WIDTH, SLAB DEPTH,
DEPTH
B, D, SY, SX, IY, IX, A
B, H
B, H
In-place family members

Revit in-place family members are not imported into ETABS.
Walls
The following wall attributes are imported into ETABS:
Points: The coordinate of all points defined in the wall analytical model are retrieved and
ETABS joint objects with identical coordinates are created. Revit walls may be defined as
having more than four corners, but ETABS walls can only have three or four nodes. Revit
walls with more than four outer corners are broken into several four node walls, with a
few three node walls when some of the edges are sloped. Also, multi-story walls are
broken into several single story ETABS walls. This is required for reporting and concrete
reinforcement design.
Wall Curve: Arc shaped curved walls with horizontal bases and tops are imported as
ETABS curved walls. Straight wall edges are imported as such. Other edges are
tessellated, with the degree of approximation defined internally by Revit, and the wall is
imported as a series of walls. Note that when a Revit wall is arc shaped in plane but its
top is not horizontal, its top curve is not an arc and will be tessellated.
Wall Openings: Wall openings are imported based on their locations. Opening with more
than four corners are broken into three and four node openings. Multi-story openings
are broken into several single story openings.
Wall Thickness: A Revit wall has different layers, each having different thickness and
material properties. ETABS only considers the layer with the maximum thickness when
importing the data from Revit.
Wall Materials: All the materials assigned to the different layers of a Revit wall are
imported into ETABS. However, only one material is assigned to the ETABS wall section
property. Users have the option in ETABS to change the material, if necessary. The
material of the wall layer with the maximum thickness is used.
Slanted walls, with their top not lined up with the base when looked at from above, are not
imported.
Floors
The following floor attributes are imported into ETABS:
Floor Points: The coordinate of all points defined in the floor analytical model are
retrieved and ETABS joint objects with identical coordinates are created.
Floor Curves: Floor edges that are arc shaped are imported as arcs in ETABS. Straight
floor edges are imported as such. All other curved floor edges are tessellated, with the
degree of approximation defined internally by Revit. Floors with more than four outer
corners are projected onto a horizontal plane at an elevation matching their average
elevation.
14
Number of Layers: In Revit, different layers may be defined within a floor. ETABS reads
the floor layer information and treats the floor as a deck if more than one layer is
present in the floor. Otherwise the floor is treated as a slab.
Layer Thickness: ETABS imports the thickness of each layer. If the floor is a deck, its
section property is defined by the maximum thickness of the layers.
Below is an example of how Revit Deck parameters are mapped to ETABS Deck Section
parameters:
Revit Deck Family
15
16
ETABS Deck Section
In this example, there are two layers in the Revit Deck section:
1) Concrete Cast-in-Place (Thickness = 5)
2) Metal Deck (Thickness = 0 )
Layer 2 stands for a deck profile with the following properties:
HR
WR
RR
SR
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THICKNESS
Here is the procedure CSiXRevit uses to fill ETABS deck section properties:
The layer with the maximum thickness is selected and treated it as the overall
thickness of the section. This layer is used to define the material of the ETABS
deck section.
Slab Depth tc = overall thickness of section HR
Deck Depth hr = HR
Rib Width Top wrt = WR
Rib Width Bottom wrb = RR
Rib Spacing Sr = SR
Composite Deck Studs diameter = RR
Composite Deck Stud height (hs) = overall thickness of section - THICKNESS
Layer Materials: ETABS imports the material of each layer. The material of the thickest
layer is assigned to the Slab or Deck section. A default material is used if no material is
defined in Revit. Users may later change the material of the different layers as required
in ETABS.
Floor Span Directions: The Revit span direction is imported for decks. A default direction
is used if no span direction is defined in Revit.
Floor Openings (Regular or Irregular): Openings defined in Revit by
Modeling>Opening>Vertical Opening are imported into ETABS. All curves in such
openings are converted into a number of smaller segments, which gives the suitable
curvature for the area boundary.
Ramps: All inclined slabs with four nodes are imported as ramp elements in ETABS.
Openings
The following openings are imported into ETABS from Revit Structure:
Vertical Openings: These are imported as opening in the floors (horizontal planes).
For details, please check Openings in Floors.
Wall Openings: These are imported as openings in the walls (vertical planes). For
details, please check Openings in Walls.
Shaft Openings: These are imported as openings in the floors (horizontal planes). For
details, please check Shaft Openings.
18
Shafts
In Revit, a Shaft Opening is defined as a 3D shaft having upper and lower limits (or offset
elevations from upper and lower story levels). In ETABS the shaft is imported as horizontal floor
openings at all the story levels that lie between the upper and lower limits of the 3D Shaft.
Footings
The following footing properties are imported into ETABS from Revit Structure:
Points: All the points defining the shape of the footing are imported. In ETABS all
columns that are located in this area are restrained.
Width, Length and Thickness: For rectangular footings, the width, length and
thickness are imported. In this case, ETABS locates all the columns within the
rectangular footing area and restrains them.
Note: Only rectangular footings are processed.
Point Loads
The following point load attributes are imported into ETABS from Revit Structure:
Load Case Name: It sets the corresponding load case name in ETABS.
Location: It is used to define the point of application of the load.
Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx, My, Mz: All forces and moments applied in the global direction, in Revit,
are transferred in a similar manner into ETABS.
Line Loads
The following line load attributes are imported into ETABS from Revit Structure:
Start and End Point Locations: Used to define the start and end point of the line load.
Line loads carrying the gravitational load and overlapping more than one beam are
distributed to the corresponding beams in ETABS. In the case of a lateral line load, users
must check no line load overlaps more than one beam; otherwise it is not processed in
the ETABS analysis.
Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx, My, Mz: All forces and moments applied in the global direction, in Revit,
are transferred in a similar manner into ETABS. A Revit line load which includes more
than one of these components is imported as several ETABS line loads because ETABS
line loads are mono-directional.
19
Area Loads
The following area load attributes are imported into ETABS from Revit Structure:
Points: Points are used to define the geometry of the loading area. Curved edges that are
arc shaped are imported as arcs. Straight edges are imported as such. Other edges are
tessellated, with the degree of approximation defined internally by Revit.
LoadX, LoadY, and LoadZ: All loads applied in the global direction in Revit are transferred
in a similar manner into ETABS.
Non-uniform surface loads are not supported in ETABS and not imported.
Load Cases
The following load case attributes are imported into ETABS from Revit Structure:
Load Case Name: The same name is used for the ETABS load case name except Rvt-" is
added to the beginning of the name.
Load Case Category: It is used to define the load case type in ETABS. The mapping is
shown in the following table:
Revit Structure Load
Case Category
Dead
Live
Wind
Snow
Roof Live
Accidental
Temperature
Seismic
ETABS Load Case Type

Dead
Live
Wind
Snow
Live
Other
Other
Quake
Load Combos
The following load combination attributes are imported into ETABS from Revit Structure:
Load Combination Name: The same name is used for the ETABS Load Combination
Name. The following names are reserved and the corresponding Load Combinations will
not be added in ETABS if these names are used in Revit:
o DCON
o DSTL
o DWAL
o DCMPC
o DCMPS
o DCMPD
20
Load Cases: The same load cases list is used in ETABS to define the Load Combination.
Load Case Factor: The same load case factors are used for the corresponding load cases
in the ETABS load combination.
ETABS Auto Select Lists

ETABS automatically creates Auto-select lists based on Revit family types that are loaded
in the current Revit project and being exported into ETABS.
21
Exporting from Revit Structure to update an existing ETABS model

The table below provides an overview of the data imported in ETABS when exporting from Revit
Structure to update an existing ETABS model:
Action
Creation of
Model Element
Supported
Grids
Story Levels
Materials
Frames
Notes
Creates equivalent ETABS materials.

Transfers geometry, offsets, cardinal points, and
end releases into ETABS. Cuts all columns at
story levels.
Frame Sections
Steel Sections
Concrete Sections
Walls
Wall Properties
Maps to ETABS database sections.

Creates and maps equivalent ETABS sections.
Wall Openings
Floors
Slabs Properties
Deck Properties
Floor Openings
Footings
Creates fixed joint restraints in ETABS wherever a

footing occurs in Revit.
Joint Loads
Frame Loads
Shell Loads
Load Cases
Load Combos
Update of
Grids
Story Levels
Materials
Frames
Frame Sections
X
X
X
22
Steel Sections
Concrete Sections
Walls
Wall Properties
Wall Openings
X
X
X
X
Walls with changing number of sides are

replaced.
Wall openings with changing number of sides are
replaced.
Floors
Slabs Properties
Deck Properties
Floor Openings
X
X
X
Point Loads
Line Loads
Area Loads
Load Cases
Load Combos
X
X
X
X
Floor openings with changing number of sides

are replaced.
Deletion of
Grids
Story Levels
Frames
Walls
Wall Openings
Floors
Floor Openings
Footings
Point Loads
Line Loads
Area Loads
Load Cases
Load Combos
IMPORTANT NOTE: Deletion of elements when updating a model only works if you are sending
the ENTIRE model. If the selection only update feature is used, deletion of items is not
supported.
23
Importing from ETABS to create a new Revit Structure Project

The table below provides an overview of the data imported in Revit Structure when creating a
new Revit Structure project:
Action
Creation of
Model Element
Supported
Grids
Story Levels
Materials
Notes
Imports Concrete and Steel materials into Revit

from ETABS. Limitation is the Revit project
should have one default concrete and one
default steel material for duplication, otherwise
the material will be created in Revit but its
parameters will not be updated, and the
properties of the new materials are identical to
those of the template materials.
Imports steel columns based on splice locations
in ETABS.
Frames
Frame Sections
Steel Sections
Concrete Sections
Creates and maps equivalent Revit sections.

See mapping below.
Slanted walls not imported.
Walls
Wall Properties
Wall Openings
Floors
Slabs Properties
Deck Properties
Footings
Load Cases
Joint Loads
Frame Element
Loads
Shell Member Loads
Load Combos
Creates equivalent Revit point line loads and

trapezoidal line loads.
Creates equivalent Revit area loads.
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Mapping of ETABS section types to Revit families:

Columns
ETABS
Rectangular
Square
Circular
Revit Family
Concrete-Rectangular-Column.rfa
Concrete-Square-Column.rfa
Concrete-Round-Column.rfa
Beams and Braces

ETABS
Rectangular
L
T
Steel Plate
Steel Rod
Revit Family
Concrete-Rectangular Beam.rfa
Precast-L Shaped Beam.rfa
Precast-Single Tee.rfa
Plate.rfa
Round Bar.rfa
25
Importing from ETABS to Update an Existing Revit Structure Project

The table below provides an overview of the data imported in Revit Structure when updating an
existing Revit Structure project:
Action
Creation of
Model Element
Supported
Grids
Story Levels
Materials
Frames
Frame Sections
Steel Sections
Concrete Sections
Notes

See mapping at end of previous section.
Walls
Wall Properties
Wall Openings
Floors
Slabs Properties
Deck Properties
Floor Openings
Footings
Load Cases
Joint Loads
Line Loads
Area Loads
Load Combos
Update of
Grids
Story Levels
Materials
Frames
Updates changes to column locations only for

columns not meshed in ETABS and with a 1:1
correspondence between Revit and ETABS. You
can choose between leaving columns meshed in
ETABS in their original Revit locations or replacing
them with the ETABS meshed columns.
Frame Sections
Steel Sections
26
Concrete Sections
Updates Beam, Column and Brace section

assignments; however section parameters
themselves do not update. If you would like to
bring in the changes to the parameters from
ETABS, create a new section with the desired
parameters in ETABS and assign the new section
to the frame.
Updates changes in wall location only for walls
not meshed in ETABS and with a 1:1
can choose between leaving walls meshed in
them with the ETABS meshed walls.
Updates wall type assignments; however wall
types themselves do not update. If a wall section
is changed in ETABS, it is imported under a new
name in Revit.
Non-rectangular wall openings are not updated.
Replaces floors which moved, were not meshed
when brought in from ETABS, and with a 1:1
can choose between leaving floors meshed in
them with the ETABS meshed floors.
Walls
Wall Properties
Wall Openings
Floors
Slabs Properties
Updates floor type assignments; however floor

types themselves do not update. If a floor section
is changed in ETABS, it is imported under a new
name in Revit.
Floor openings moved in ETABS are replaced.
Deck Properties
Floor Openings
Load Cases
Point Loads
Line Loads
Area Loads
Load Combos
Area loads moved in ETABS are replaced.
Deletion of
Grids
Story Levels
Materials
Frames
Walls
Wall Openings
Floors
Floor Openings
Non-rectangular wall openings are not deleted.

Floor openings imported as a floor shaft and
27
deleted in ETABS are not deleted.

Load Cases
Point Loads
Line Loads
Area Loads
Load Combos
IMPORTANT NOTE: Deletion of elements when updating a model only works if you are sending
the ENTIRE model. If the selection only update feature is used, deletion of items is not
supported.
28
Procedures
Exporting from Revit Structure to Create/Update a New/Existing ETABS Model
IMPORTANT NOTE: CSiXRevit only exports the analytical model of Revit Structure. All
connectivity must be ensured in the Revit Structure analytical model before exporting to ETABS
to ensure connectivity.
The following steps describe how to send your Revit Structure analytical model to ETABS:
1. To create a new ETABS model, from the Revit menu select, Tools>External
Tools>Export to Create New ETABS or SAP2000 Model. To update an existing
ETABS model, from the Revit Structure menu select, Tools>External Tools>Export
to Update Existing ETABS Model.
2. CSiXRevit counts the objects in the Revit project and displays the Export to Create
New ETABS or SAP2000 Model dialog, or Export to Update Existing Model dialog
as may be the case:
Select the types of elements to send to ETABS. If you have selected some objects
prior to starting the command and wish to only export those objects, check the
corresponding box at the bottom of the dialog.
Once you have made your selections, click OK.
29
The Exporting to Create New ETABS or SAP 2000 Model or Exporting to Update
Existing ETABS model information message box is shown and displays the
progress of the export:
3. Once the process has run its course, click OK. You are now asked to select a file
name. The file will be given the extension .EXR.
4. Start ETABS if it is not already running.
5. To create a new ETABS model from your Revit project, you should not have any
other model open. By default ETABS creates a new model based on your .EXR file.
To update an existing ETABS model, open it.
6. From the menu, select File>Import>Revit Structure .exr file, and then select the
.EXR file to import. If you are creating a new model, this command is available
from the ETABS Start Page. The Revit Data Overview/Controls dialog is displayed:
30
The top section of this dialog displays and organizes how all the Revit elements
are mapped into ETABS elements.
Any property that may have a default value or zero value displays a warning.
Sometimes certain values in Revit were not defined. The ETABS import gives an
opportunity to fix these problems parametrically before the ETABS model is
created. These problems can be fixed by clicking the Edit button next to
element.
The bottom section of this dialog displays general controls that ETABS uses when
importing the Revit project. The units selected here are used as the default units
of the ETABS model. The length tolerance is the tolerance ETABS uses to create
connectivity when creating the finite element model for analysis. The Minimum
Curve Length and Angle allow the user to control how a curve is divided into
straight line segments.
7. To see the various Levels brought in from Revit click the Show button. Level data
is not editable at this stage. Level data can be edited once the model is brought
into ETABS. Below is a screen shot of all of the levels imported in this model:
31
8. To see the Revit material properties imported, select the Edit button next to
Total Materials. The Material Mapping dialog is displayed:
In this model four materials are imported. Any new ETABS material is created
with the same name as the Revit material name. To map the Revit Structure
Material to something other than the new ETABS material created, click on the
ETABS material name. A combo box will be displayed with all of the existing
ETABS materials currently in the ETABS model. To create a new material property
32
to map your Revit material to, click Add. The ETABS Add Material dialog is then
displayed. To see the mapping of material parameters select the Material
property and click Edit. The ETABS Material Property Data dialog is then
displayed:
To check the original properties of the material in Revit, click Revit Data... The
original properties are displayed:
33
9. To see the Revit Frame Sections imported, select the Edit button next to Total
Frame Sections. The Frame Section Mapping dialog is displayed:
The first three columns display the Revit section name, the Revit Section Family
Name, and the Revit Material. The fourth column is the ETABS section the Revit
Section is mapped to. The final column describes how the section is mapped or
created.
Only the ETABS Section Name column is editable. Clicking any row in the column
displays a combo box that includes all section properties currently loaded in the
current ETABS model. To add a section to the list, click the Add button the right
side.
When ETABS imports the Revit data, it initially tries to match Revit section names
to ETABS section names. It first searches through the loaded ETABS database
sections. If not matched, it then searches all the ETABS section property files
(.XML). It will map the section to the first section name that matches. To specify
which files are searched, click the .XML Files button on the right side. The XML
Property Files dialog is displayed:
34
All the XML property files present in the ETABS installation directory are selected
by default. A file can be added or removed from the ETABS search by checking or
unchecking its checkbox in the list. To add a new file, click on the Add File
button. To change the order in which ETABS searches the files, move their names
up and down in the list using the arrow key buttons on the right side.
If ETABS cannot create a section mapping by name, it tries to create the section
parametrically. For most steel sections ETABS is able to find a match. For
concrete sections, ETABS will create the sections parametrically. To see how Revit
sections properties are mapped, see the section under Supported Workflows
called Exporting from Revit Structure to create a new ETABS model.
Similar to the Material Mapping, details about the Frame Section Mapping can be
edited by selecting the row, and clicking the Edit button.
To save the mapping created, the mapping file can be exported by clicking the
Export Mapping File button.
Likewise, to import a mapping file created in the past, click the Import Mapping
File button.
10. To see the Revit floor sections imported, select the Edit button next to Total
Floor Sections. The Floor Section Mapping dialog is displayed:
35
Similar to other section mapping, you can specify the ETABS floor section the
Revit floor gets mapped to. By default an equivalent ETABS floor section is
created and mapped. Create a new deck or slab section by using the buttons on
the right side. After adding the deck or slab, the new ETABS floor section will
show up in the drop down list.
To review the details of an ETABS section, click on the row and then click the
Edit button. You will see the Floor Section Mapping Details dialog:
36
Change any of the data in the fields by editing them on the left side and seeing
how the data is mapped.
11. To see the Revit wall sections imported, select the Edit button next to Total
Wall Sections. The Wall Section Mapping dialog is displayed:
Similar to other section mapping, select the ETABS wall section to view the Revit
wall it is mapped to. By default an equivalent ETABS wall section is created and
mapped. To create a wall section use the Add buttons on the right side. After
adding the wall, the new ETABS wall section shows up in the drop down list.
To see the Wall Section Mapping details, click on the row and then click the
Edit button. You will see the Wall Section Mapping Details dialog:
37
Change any of the data in the fields by editing them on the left side and seeing
how the data is mapped. Revit walls can have many layers. ETABS does it best at
mapping the parameters.
12. Once satisfied with the mapping parameters, in the Revit Data Overview/Controls
dialog select OK. The ETABS model is created.
38
Exporting from ETABS to Create/Update a New/Existing Revit Structure Project

IMPORTANT NOTE: Before importing any .EXR file into Revit Structure be sure you have a
Shared Parameter file defined in Revit Structure. CSiXRevit uses the Shared Parameter file as a
place to store pertinent data. To create a shared parameter file in Revit Structure2014, go to
File>Shared Parameters. You just need to create a blank shared parameter file so CSiXRevit has
a place to write data to.
The following steps describe how to export your ETABS analytical model to create or update a
Revit Structure project:
1. Once you have edited, analyzed and designed your structure in ETABS, save the
ETABS file by selecting the File>Save.
2. In ETABS, select File>Export>Revit Structure .exr File and specify a file name in
the Export ETABS-Revit Structure Exchange File dialog which is displayed.
3. If you have selected parts of the model, and would like to send only those
selections, select the appropriate box:
4. Start Revit Structure.

5. To create a new Revit project from your ETABS model, open a Revit template that
you would like to import your ETABS model into. It isnt required, but the import
will come in faster and will be more predictable if you load all the beam, column,
brace, deck, slab and wall families you would like ETABS sections to map to prior
to importing. From the menu select, Tools>External Tools>Import to Create New
Revit Structure Project from ETABS or SAP2000. Select the .exr file you would
like to import. CSiXRevit will try to load families that are not already loaded.
To update an existing Revit project, first open it. Again, if you have new sections
you defined in ETABS, the import will come in faster and will be more predictable
39
if you load all the beam, column, brace, deck, slab and wall families you would
like ETABS sections to map to prior to importing. From the Revit menu select,
Tools>External Tools>Import to Update Existing Revit Structure Project from
ETABS. Select the .exr file to import.
6. Whether creating a new Revit project or updating an existing Revit project, after
selecting the .EXR file, the following dialog is displayed:
On the left side, you can control the types of ETABS elements to import into the
Revit Structure project and the mapping of ETABS sections to Revit types.
40
Clicking the Frame Sections button under Mapping Options displays the
Frame Section Mapping dialog:
Changes to the mapping of ETABS sections to Revit sections can be made here. All
Revit column beam and brace families currently loaded are displayed in the drop
down lists.
41
Clicking the Floor Sections button displays the Floor Section Mapping dialog:
Changes to the mapping of ETABS floor sections to Revit sections can be made
here. All Revit floor families currently loaded are displayed in the drop down lists.
Clicking the Wall Sections button displays the Wall Section Mapping dialog:
Changes to the mapping of ETABS wall sections to Revit sections can be made
here. All Revit wall families currently loaded are displayed in the drop down lists.
42
If you are updating a Revit Structure project from an ETABS model, you have the
choice to only update locations and releases, only update designs and load
magnitudes, or update both:
Also, when updating a Revit project from an ETABS model, there can be instances
in which the 1:1 mapping of Revit elements to ETABS elements is lost because
elements in ETABS were meshed. If this is the case, you have two options:
1. Delete the existing Revit elements, and have CSiXRevit create new
instances that are meshed in ETABS.
2. Keep the existing elements as they are and use object mapping to control
the assignment of section properties during the import.
In the case of option #2, there can be situations in which the user has to make
some decisions. For example, if a column in Revit Structure runs from the ground
floor to the top floor as a single element, when imported into ETABS, the column
is cut at every floor level. When it is designed, different sections might be
assigned to each segment of the column. When the column (that is now meshed
in ETABS) is imported back into Revit, you have the option to 1) delete the
original column in Revit and have CSiXRevit create a column with the varying
sections or to 2) select one of the frame sections for the entire length of that
column. This can be accomplished by selecting the corresponding checkbox and
43
clicking the Objects button under Mapping Options. The Object Mapping
dialog is displayed:
In this case, Column ID (139774) spans three floors in Revit but was meshed into
three pieces in ETABS. When coming back into Revit, the user has the option to
choose which section to assign to the entire length of the column. The same
methodology can be applied to meshed beams, braces, floors and walls.
Once satisfied with the object mappings, select OK and your ETABS model will be
imported.
44
Reviewing the Log File (.log)

Every time a model is sent from Revit Structure to ETABS or from ETABS to Revit
Structure, a file with the extension .log is created if it does not exist, or appended
if it already exists. This file lists the project or model name, the workflow
operation, and the time and date. It also lists any errors or omissions
encountered in generating or importing the .EXR file, and therefore, should be
checked every time data is transferred. The .log file also lists the build numbers
for CSiXRevit and Revit Structure. The two should be identical to ensure no
misinterpretation of data occurred. The first few lines of the .log file have the
following format (the actual data may be different):
CSiXRevit Revit API Build = 20130308_1515
Current Revit Version = 2014
Current Revit Build = 20130308_1515
The Build = numbers should be the same having the same Version numbers
but different Build numbers does not guarantee data consistency.
Finally, in the case of an incremental import, the changes made to the Revit
project are listed.
Added Area Load for the following elements:
262405 to replace 262161
262422 to replace 262188
262439 to replace 262205
262456 to replace 262222
262473 to replace 262239
262490 to replace 262256
Added Floor for the following elements:
262383 to replace 262086
262393 to replace 262117
262401 to replace 262125
Changed Beam camber for the following elements:
262053 to C=1.75"
262056 to C=1.75"
262059 to C=1.75"
262062 to C=1.75"
262065 to C=1.75"
262068 to C=1.75"
262071 to C=1.75"
262074 to C=1.75"
262077 to C=1.75"
45
Changed Beam end reactions for the following elements:

262053
262056
262059
262062
262065
262068
262071
262074
262077
Changed Beam shear studs for the following elements:
262053 to (20)
262056 to (20)
262059 to (20)
262062 to (20)
262065 to (20)
262068 to (20)
262071 to (20)
262074 to (20)
262077 to (20)
Moved Structural Member for the following elements:
261993 by 10.00 ft, 0.00ft
261996 by 10.00 ft, 0.00ft
262000 by 10.00 ft, 0.00ft
262003 by 10.00 ft, 0.00ft
262005 by 10.00 ft, 0.00ft
262008 by 10.00 ft, 0.00ft
262012 by 10.00 ft, 0.00ft
262015 by 10.00 ft, 0.00ft
262017 by 10.00 ft, 0.00ft
262020 by 10.00 ft, 0.00ft
Each Revit element is identified by its Revit ID. You can view the elements the ids referred to
by selecting Manage->Select by ID in the Revit Structure ribbon, typing an id, and clicking the
Show button:
.Revit will identify a view that contains the element, switch to that view, and highlight the
element.
46
Known Limitations with CSiXRevit and ETABS

1. For Windows with strict UAC (User Account Control), users must Run as
Administrator (for ETABS.exe and Revit.exe). If Revit Structure is not run as
administrator, it is possible CSiXRevit will not be able to open the .log file. In this
case, CSiXRevit will not write any warnings to the log file but all warning messages
will be displayed on the screen. Directly sending data to ETABS may not work if Revit
Structure is not run as administrator.
2. Updates to end release conditions in ETABS are not updated in Revit.
3. Sometimes updates to cardinal points in ETABS are not updated in Revit Structure
because the z-justification and offset parameters are Read-only.
4. When importing a new Revit Structure project, only the openings that lie completely
within a wall or floor are imported. It is recommended to break any openings not
completely inside a wall or floor before importing. Openings not inside any wall or
floor cannot be imported into Revit Structure.
5. Revit Structure floors that are grouped together may be treated as openings when
importing into ETABS.
6. It is recommended to avoid double byte characters for Revit Structure Families for
entities attached with the analytical model. ETABS does not support double byte
characters in frame and shell section names.
7. Import of European and Chinese steel sections from Revit Structure to ETABS is
possible if their corresponding .PRO files are present in ETABS folder.
8. Materials imported into Revit Structure from ETABS may not always be properly
mapped or the property values may not always be properly transferred. For this
reason, material mapping and material property values should always be carefully
checked in Revit Structure after importing from ETABS.
47
Revit Structure and SAP2000 Data Exchange

Data exchange between CSiXRevit and SAP2000 supports two different workflows:
1) Exporting from Revit Structure to create new SAP2000 model.
2) Importing from SAP2000 to create a new Revit Structure project.
Supported Workflows
Exporting from Revit Structure to create a new SAP2000 Model
The table below provides an overview of the data transferred from Revit Structure to SAP2000:
Action
Creation of
Project Element
Supported
Grid Lines
Materials
Steel
Concrete
Aluminum
Generic
Other
Wood
Frames
Notes
Does not transfer.
Does not transfer reinforcement properties.

Imports as isotropic Other SAP2000
material type.
Transfers geometry, cardinal points, and end

releases into SAP2000. Ignores end offsets.
Imports curved Revit framing as a series of
short straight SAP2000 frame elements.
Frame Sections
Rolled Steel Sections
Loads equivalent SAP2000 section profiles

from the SAP2000 .PRO files specified during
import of the .EXR file into SAP2000.
Imports with None properties.
Creates and maps equivalent SAP2000
sections.
Imports walls as SAP000 shell elements with
wall openings imported as separate shell
elements with None properties. Imports
curved Revit walls as a series of short planar
SAP2000 shell elements.
Creates and maps equivalent SAP2000 thick
shell sections.
Bar Joists
Concrete Sections
Walls
Wall Properties
48
Floors
Imports floors as SAP000 shell elements with

floor openings imported as separate shell
elements with None properties.
shell sections.
shell sections with directional stiffness
modifiers.
Does not transfer.
Slabs Properties
Slab on Deck
Properties
Footings
Point Loads
Creates SAP2000 joints if the load does not

coincide with a previously created joint and
does not line up with any frame elements.
This will cause model instability that needs to
be addressed.
Creates SAP2000 frame elements with
None properties if the load does not
overlap any other frame element. If the load
also does not line up with any imported floor
or wall, it will cause model instability that
needs to be addressed.
Does not transfer.
Line Loads
Area Loads
Load Cases
Load Combinations
Grid Lines
Revit Structure grid lines are not imported in the current version of SAP2000.
Materials
All Revit Structure materials are imported into SAP2000 as isotropic materials. The following
Revit material attributes are imported into SAP2000:
Material Name: The same name is used in SAP2000.
Material Class: Concrete and steel set to equivalent SAP2000 material types. Generic,
aluminum, and wood material types set as Other SAP2000 material type.
Youngs Modulus: The first of Revits three Youngs modulus values (one for each
direction) sets the SAP2000 material Youngs modulus (E) value. If this value is zero, the
default SAP2000 value is used.
49
Poissons Ratio: The first of Revits three Poissons Ratio values (one for each direction)
sets the SAP2000 material Poissons Ratio (U) value. If this value is zero, the default
SAP2000 value is used.
Shear Modulus: The first of Revits three Shear Modulus values (one for each direction) is
compared to the value of the material Shear Modulus (G) computed by SAP2000. If the
two differ by more than one percent in SAP2000, a warning is reported in the log file.
Thermal Expansion Coefficient: The first of Revits three thermal expansion coefficients
(one for each direction) sets the SAP2000 material thermal expansion coefficient (Alpha).
If this coefficient is zero, the default SAP2000 value is used.
Unit weight: The Revit unit weight sets both the SAP2000 material weight density (w)
and mass density (m). In SAP2000 the mass density is calculated by dividing the weight
density by the gravitational constant (g). If the unit weight is zero, the default SAP2000
value is used.
Behavior: Revit uses this tag to distinguish between isotropic and orthotropic materials.
All Revit materials are imported as isotropic materials in SAP2000. Any orthotropic
material generates a warning in the log file.
Concrete Compression: In the case of a concrete material, the Revit concrete
compression sets the SAP2000 concrete compressive strength fc.
Lightweight: The value of this tag is used to identify a concrete material as lightweight
concrete in SAP2000.
Yield Stress: In the case of a steel material, this value sets the SAP2000 minimum yield
stress Fy. If the yield stress is zero, the default SAP2000 value is used.
Tensile Strength: In the case of a steel material, this value sets the SAP2000 minimum
tensile stress Fu. If the tensile stress is zero, the default SAP2000 value is used.
The following Revit material attributes are not imported in the current version of SAP2000:
Damping Ratio
Bending Reinforcement
Shear Reinforcement
Resistance Calculation Strength
Shear Strength Reduction
Steel Reduction Factor
Only those materials associated with walls, framing, or floors in the Revit Structure project
are imported into SAP2000.
Frames
The following Revit Structure frame member attributes are imported into SAP2000:
Analytical Model End Points: The point coordinates are used to locate matching joints
already created, and when none can be found, create new joints. When importing end
50
points, SAP2000 views two points as coincident if none of their coordinates differ by
more than 1/100th of a foot. This level of precision corresponds to the level of precision
in the Revit database.
Frame Curves: SAP2000 does not support curved frame objects and any curved Revit
member is imported as a series of short straight SAP2000 frame elements. Revit controls
how the curve is broken into segments.
Family Type: See Frame Sections below.
Frame Releases: All frame releases defined in Revit are imported into SAP2000 as line
object releases. Releases that cause model instability are restrained and a warning is
reported in the log file.
Beam Insertion Point: In Revit, a beam insertion point is defined by the following two
parameters:
o Z-Direction Justification
o Lateral Justification
SAP2000 calculates the coressponding cardinal point on the basis of these two
parameters. If these parameters are not defined, then the default cardinal point (middle
center) is chosen.
Column Orientation and Beam and Brace Cross-Section Rotation: This angle measures the
rotation of the member around its longitudinal axis in Revit and sets the value of the
Rotation about 1 angle in elements imported into SAP2000. The two angles are
measured identically in both programs except they differ by 90 in the case of columns.
The following Revit Structure frame member attributes are not imported into the current
version of SAP2000:
Column Beam and Brace Vertical End Offsets: Revit column beams and brace vertical end
offsets are not imported into SAP2000 because element end points are retrieved from
their Revit analytical models.
Column Insertion Point: The cardinal point of imported columns is always middle center.
Rigid Links
Frame Sections
Frame member sections are defined in Revit by their assigned family type.
When reading an .exr file, SAP2000 attempts to match each Revit frame member family type
to an identically named section profile defined in the AISC13.pro file (or AISC13M.pro
depending on the display unit system in use when importing begins).
In the absence of such a match, SAP2000 checks if the type is from one of the parametric
families (Table 2) for which it knows how to generate sections for.
Any frame member type not matched becomes an unrecognized type for which SAP2000
requires additional user input.
51
This additional input is entered in the Import Revit Structure .exr file dialog displayed when
an import into SAP2000 begins. Here all unrecognized types are listed in a table, allowing
them to be manually matched to predefined SAP2000 section profile names or, as a last
resort, to the SAP2000 None property.
Here additional section properties databases (.PRO files) can be loaded. When adding a
properties file (.PRO), the unrecognized Revit types are checked against the section profile
names in this file. This may resolve most of the unrecognized types if the correct properties
file (.PRO) is chosen.
SAP2000 saves the properties files (.PRO) manually loaded and the manual assignments
made here in a file with an .EXRMap extension. When importing into SAP2000 the same
Revit project again, SAP2000 will automatically restore these choices.
When loading an .exr file, SAP2000 keeps track of which materials are used in conjunction
with which section profiles. When a section profile is always used with the same material,
the corresponding section property is named after the profile. If a section profile is used
with a number of different materials, the various corresponding section properties will have
compound names consisting of the profile name with the relevant material name appended.
52
The parameters for concrete and wood structural families are listed in the table below:
Member Type
CONCRETE
COLUMNS
CONCRETE
FRAMING
Family Name
CONCRETE-RECTANGULARCOLUMN
CONCRETE-ROUND-COLUMN
CONCRETE-SQUARECOLUMN
PRECAST-RECTANGULAR
COLUMN
PRECAST-DOUBLE TEE
PRECAST-INVERTED TEE
PRECAST-L SHAPED BEAM
PRECAST-RECTANGULAR
BEAM
PRECAST-SINGLE TEE
WOOD
COLUMNS
WOOD
FRAMING
DIMENSION LUMBERCOLUMN
GLULAM-SOUTHERN PINECOLUMN
GLULAM-WESTERN SPECIESCOLUMN
PSL-PARALLEL STRAND
LUMBER-COLUMN
TIMBER-COLUMN
DIMENSION LUMBER
GLULAM-SOUTHERN PINE
GLULAM-WESTERN SPECIES
LVL-LAMINATED VENEER
LUMBER
TIMBER
OPEN WEB JOIST
PLYWOOD WEB JOIST
Table 2: Parameters used in SAP2000
53
Parameters
B, H
B
B
B, H CHAMFER
WIDTH, TEE WIDTH,
STEM WIDTH, SLAB
DEPTH, DEPTH
H1, H, B, SEAT
H1, H, B, SEAT
B, H
WIDTH, STEM
WIDTH, SLAB DEPTH,
DEPTH
B, H
B, H
In-place Family Members

Revit Structure in-place family members are not imported into the current version of
SAP2000.
Walls
Revit Structure walls are imported into SAP2000 as shell elements. The following Revit
Structure wall attributes are imported into SAP2000:
already created, and when none are found, create new joints.
Wall Curves: Curved vertical Revit walls are imported as a series of short planar SAP2000
shell elements. Revit controls how the curve is broken into segments.
Wall Openings (Regular rectangular shape): This refers to wall openings drawn with the
Revit selection Modeling>Opening>Wall Opening. These openings are imported into
SAP2000 as shells element, with None properties, that overlap the shell element
generated for the wall.
Wall Thickness and Material: Revit walls may consist of different layers with different
thickness and materials. The thickness and material type of the layer with the maximum
thickness are used to find or create an appropriate SAP2000 thick shell property. Wall
section properties are named after the Revit wall types. The suffix -WALL is appended
to this name if the name is also used for a floor type.
Floors
Revit Structure floors are imported into SAP2000 as shell elements. The following Revit
Structure floor attributes are imported into SAP2000:
already created, and when none can be found, create new joints.
Floor Curves: SAP2000 does not support curved edges in shell elements. All curves in
Revit floors are approximated as a series of straight segments. Revit controls how the
curve is segmented.
Floor Thickness and Material: Revit floors may consist of different layers. If there is only
one layer, its thickness and material are used to define an equivalent SAP2000 thick shell
property. If there is more than one layer, and one of the layers corresponds to a Revit
deck profile and at least one other is a concrete layer, SAP2000 creates a concrete thick
shell property. Its thickness is equal to the total thickness of all the concrete layers and
the membrane and bending stiffness modifiers assigned will account for the presence of
deck ribs. Floor section properties are named after the Revit floor types.
Floor Span Direction: Sets the SAP2000 shell element local axes.
Inclined Slabs: Also imported into SAP2000 as shell elements.
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Openings
Revit Structure openings are imported into SAP2000 as shell elements with None properties.
This includes:
Floor Openings
Wall Openings
Shaft Openings: These are imported as SAP2000 shell elements located at the base of
the shaft with None properties.
Footings
Revit Structure footings are not imported in the current version of SAP2000.
Point Loads
The following Revit Structure point load attributes are imported into SAP2000:
Load Case Name: Sets the load pattern name in SAP2000.
Location: The point coordinates are used to locate a matching joint already created.
SAP2000 views a joints and a point load as coincident if none of their coordinates differ
by more than 1/20th of a foot. This level of precision corresponds to the level of precision
in the Revit database. When no coincident joint is found, SAP2000 looks for an
underlying frame element. If no suitable frame element is found, SAP2000 creates a new
joint. This new joint creates model instability that needs to be addressed.
Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx, My, Mz: All forces and moments are defined in the global coordinates
system in Revit and defined in SAP2000 in a similar manner.
Line Loads
The following Revit Structure line load attributes are imported into SAP2000:
Load Case Name: Sets the corresponding load case name in SAP2000.
Start and End Point Locations: These define the start and end points of the line load. A
line load overlapping more than one frame element is distributed on the corresponding
frame elements. If all or part of the load cannot be assigned to frame elements, new
frame elements with None properties are created. This will cause model instability if
the load does not also line up with any imported floor or wall.
Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx, My, Mz: All forces and moments are defined in the global coordinates
system in Revit and defined in SAP2000 in a similar manner.
Area Loads
Revit Structure area loads are not imported in the current version of SAP2000.
55
Load Cases
Revit Structure load cases are imported into SAP2000 as both load patterns and load cases.
One load pattern and one load case are both created in SAP2000 for each Revit load case.
The following Revit Structure load case attributes are imported into SAP2000:
Load Case Name: Sets the corresponding load case name in SAP2000.
Load Case Category: This defines the load case type in SAP2000. The mapping is shown in
the following table:
Case Category
Dead
Live
Wind
Snow
Roof Live
Accidental
Temperature
Seismic
SAP2000 Load Case Type

Dead
Live
Wind
Snow
Live
Other
Temperature
Quake
Load Combinations
The following Revit Structure load combination attributes are imported into SAP2000:
Load Combination Name: The same name is used in SAP200.
Load Cases: The same load case list is used in SAP2000.
Load Case Factors: The same load case factors are used in SAP2000.
56
Importing from SAP2000 to create a new Revit Structure Project

The table below provides an overview of the data transferred from SAP2000 to Revit Structure:
Action
Creation of
Model Element
Supported
Grid Lines
Joints
Materials (isotropic)
Notes
Does not transfer.
Does not transfer, but force joint loads transfer.
Creates material. Limitation is the Revit project
should have one default concrete and one
default steel material for duplication, otherwise
the material will be created in Revit but its
parameters will not be updated, and the
property of the new materials are identical to
those of the template materials.
Does not transfer.
Materials
(orthotropic)
Frames
Vertical Frames
Creates as columns in Revit. Cardinal point, end

length offsets and joint offsets do not transfer.
Creates as beams in Revit. End length offsets
and joint offsets do not transfer.
Creates as braces in Revit. Cardinal point, end
length offsets and joint offsets do not transfer.
Imports as columns, beams, or braces based on
their alignment.
Horizontal Frames
Other Frames
Cables
Frame Sections
None
Tapered Sections
Steel Sections
Does not transfer frame element.

Does not transfer frame element.
Maps to Revit family types with matching
names. If not loaded, family type is located and
if found, loaded.
Maps to Revit family types with matching
names. If not loaded, family type is located and
if found, loaded.
Does not transfer.
Joists
Concrete Sections
SAP2000 Auto
Select Lists
Shells
Vertical Shells
Horizontal Shells
Imports as walls in Revit.

Imports as floors in Revit.
57
Shells in other
planes
Non-planar shells
Shell Properties
None
Membrane
Plate
Shell
Layered
Planes
Vertical Planes
Horizontal Planes
Other Planes
Imports in Revit as floors with a slope. Slope

value may require user adjustment.
Does not transfer.
Does not transfer the shell.
Does not transfer stiffness modifiers.
Does not transfer.

Imports as walls in Revit.
Imports as floors in Revit.
Imports in Revit as floors with a slope. Slope
value may require user adjustment.
Does not transfer.
Does not transfer.
Does not transfer.
Does not transfer.
ASolids
Solids
Link/Support
Tendons
Joint Loads
Force
Loads defined in coordinate systems other than

local or global do not transfer.
Does not transfer.
Displacement
Frame Loads
Concentrated
Distributed
Temperature
Strain
Target Force
Internal Force
Shell and Plane
Loads
Uniform
Uniform to Frame
Surface Pressure
Pore Pressure
Temperature
Strain
Load Patterns
Loads defined in coordinate systems other than

Does not transfer.
Does not transfer.
Loads defined in coordinate systems, other than

Does not transfer.
Imports as Revit load cases, unless their type

does not correspond to a predefined Revit load
case category.
Load Cases
58
Static Linear
Imports into Revit only if all static linear load

cases each refer to a single load pattern. Load
patterns not imported into Revit are not
included in the list of Revit Structure load cases.
Does not transfer.
Other than Static

Linear
Load Combinations
Imports as Revit load combination only if it

refers to more than one load pattern. Load
patterns not imported into Revit are not
included in the list of Revit load cases.
Grid Lines
SAP2000 grid lines are not imported into Revit Structure.
Joints
While model geometry is imported into Revit Structure, SAP2000 joints themselves are not
imported. This restriction includes supports.
Materials
CSiXRevit creates Revit Structure materials with the same names as the SAP2000 materials if
they are not already in the project template:
Material Name: The same name is used in Revit.
Material Type: Concrete and steel set to equivalent Revit material classes. Aluminum,
Cold-formed steel and Other set to Revit Generic material class.
Concrete Compressive Strength: In the case of a concrete material, CSiXRevit attempts to
create a new concrete material which duplicates a Revit Structure concrete material with
the same concrete compressive strength if it can find one in the project template. If not,
a new concrete material is created but its concrete compressive strength differs from
the original SAP2000 value.
Lightweight Concrete: In the case of a concrete material, sets the corresponding Revit
attribute.
Minimum Yield Stress: In the case of a steel material, CSiXRevit attempts to create a new
steel material which duplicates a Revit Structure steel material with the same minimum
yield stress if it can find one in the project template. If not, a new steel material is
created but its minimal yield stress differs from the original SAP2000 value.
Only materials associated with exported SAP2000 frame, cable and shell elements are imported
into the new Revit Structure project.
59
Frame Elements
SAP2000 frame elements are imported into Revit Structure as columns, beams, or braces
depending on whether they are vertical, horizontal, or inclined. Frame element with None
properties, non-prismatic properties, or a material that cannot itself be exported are not
imported into Revit Structure. The following SAP2000 frame member attributes are
imported into Revit Structure:
Name: The SAP2000 name is imported into Revit as a shared parameter.
Start and End Joints: The coordinates of their start and end joints set the end points of
the Analytical Models of the new Revit Structure columns, beams, or braces.
Properties: The name of the SAP2000 properties is exported. When importing frame
elements from an .exr file into Revit, CSiXRevit always attempts to locate and load a
Revit family type with the same name as the SAP2000 properties name. Note that the
search is much quicker if the relevant Revit sections are already loaded in your Revit
prototype or project before you import your SAP2000 model. For some concrete frame
element properties corresponding to the families listed in Table 2, CSiXRevit creates a
new family type, if it is not already in the new Revit project, and another type of the
same family, if it is already loaded. Therefore if a SAP model includes concrete frame
elements, at least one type of the relevant concrete member families in Revit prototype
or project should be loaded prior to import.
Frame Releases: See Limitations.
Insertion Point: Only the insertion points of SAP2000 horizontal elements are imported
into Revit, as neither Revit columns nor braces have Z-Direction or Lateral Justification
attributes.
Local Axes: Sets Revit Structure Column Orientation and Beam and Brace Cross-Section
Rotation.
The following SAP2000 frame element attributes are not imported into Revit Structure:
Frame Joint Offsets
End Length Offsets
Cable Elements
SAP2000 cable elements are imported into Revit Structure as columns, beams, or braces
depending on whether they are vertical, horizontal, or inclined. Cable element with None
properties, or a material that cannot itself be exported are not imported into Revit
Structure. The following SAP2000 cable element attributes are imported into Revit
Structure:
Start and End Joints: The coordinates of their start and end joints set the end points of
the Analytical Models of the new Revit columns, beams, and braces.
60
Properties: The name of SAP2000 properties is exported. When importing cable

elements from an .exr files into Revit, CSiXRevit always attempts to locate and load a
Revit family type with the same name.
Shell and Plane Elements

SAP2000 shell and plane elements are imported into Revit Structure in different ways based
on their orientation. Vertical shell and plane elements are imported into Revit Structure as
walls. Horizontal shell and plane elements are imported into Revit Structure as floors. Other
planar shells and plane elements are imported into Revit Structure as floors with a slope.
Non-planar shell elements, shell and plane elements with None properties, or with layered
properties, are not imported into Revit Structure. The following SAP2000 shell and plane
attributes are imported into Revit Structure:
Joints: Their coordinates set the corners of the new Revit wall or floor analytical model.
In the case of shell and plane elements that are neither vertical nor horizontal, floors
with a slope are created in Revit. Note that while their slope is initially set correctly,
Revit subsequently resets it to a different value. The correct slope is available as a shared
parameter named Computed slope and you need to reset the slope of the floor to this
parameter value.
Properties: SAP2000 shell, membrane, plate, and plane properties are imported into
Revit as wall or floor type and as a single layer. The thickness and material matches the
SAP2000 thickness and material. Note that stiffness modifiers are not exported.
Solid Elements, ASolid Elements, Link/Support Elements, Tendon Objects
SAP2000 Solid Elements, ASolid Elements, Link/Support Elements, and Tendon Objects are
not imported into Revit Structure.
Force Joint Loads and Frame Element Concentrated Loads
SAP2000 force joint loads and frame element concentrated loads are imported into Revit
Structure as point loads. Not all force joint loads are imported: see Load Pattern and
Coordinate System below. The following SAP2000 force joint load attributes are imported
into Revit Structure:
Load Pattern: It sets the Revit load case name. Loads part of a load pattern that is not
itself exported are not imported into Revit.
Coordinate System: Joint loads and frame element concentrated loads defined in
coordinate systems other than the local joint coordinate system or the model global
coordinate system are not imported into Revit.
Force X, Force Y, Force Z, Moment about X, Moment about Y, and Moment about Z: Set
the values of Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx, My, Mz in Revit.
61
Ground displacement joint loads are not imported into Revit Structure.
Frame Element Loads
Frame element distributed loads are imported into Revit Structure as line loads. Distributed
loads consisting of a sequence of trapezoidal loads are imported as multiple loads with one
Revit line load for each trapezoidal segment. Not all force joint loads are imported: see Load
Pattern and Coordinate System below. The following SAP2000 frame element load attributes
are imported into Revit Structure:
Coordinate System: Frame element distributed loads defined in coordinate systems
other than the local joint coordinate system or the model global coordinate system are
not imported into Revit.
Load Type, Direction and Load: Set the values of Fx1, Fx2, Fy1, Fy2, Fz1, Fz2, Mx1, Mx2,
My1, My1, My2, Mz1, and Mz2 in Revit. Projected load magnitudes are converted to
absolute load magnitudes based on the geometry of the frame element.
Temperature, strain, target force and internal force frame element loads are not imported
into Revit Structure.
Shell and Plane Element Loads
Shell element uniform, uniform to frame, and surface pressure loads and plane element
surface pressure loads are imported into Revit Structure as area loads. Not all force joint
loads are imported: see Load Pattern and Coordinate System below. The following SAP2000
shell and plane element loads attributes are imported into Revit Structure:
Coordinate System: Shell and plane element distributed loads defined in coordinate
systems other than the local joint coordinate system or the model global coordinate
system are not imported into Revit.
Load Direction and Load: Set the value of Fx1, Fy1, Fz1, in Revit. Projected load
magnitudes are converted to absolute load magnitudes based on the geometry of the
shell or plane element.
Shell and plane element temperature loads, shell element strain loads, plane element pore
pressure loads are not imported into Revit Structure.
62
Load Patterns
SAP2000 load patterns with types corresponding to a predefined Revit Structure load case
category are imported into Revit Structure as load cases. The following SAP2000 load pattern
attributes are imported into Revit Structure:
Load Pattern Name: The same name is used in Revit.
Load Case Type: It sets the Revit load case nature and category. The mapping is shown in
the following table:
SAP2000 Load Case Type

Case Category
Dead
Live
Dead, Super Dead

Live, Reducible Live,
Pattern Live
Roof Live, Ice
Snow
Wind
Quake
Temperature,
temperature gradient
Other
Not listed above
Roof Live
Snow
Wind
Seismic
Temperature
Not exported
Not exported
Load patterns with types that do not correspond to any predefined Revit Structure load case
category are not imported into Revit Structure, and neither are any of their constituent loads.
Load Cases
If any SAP2000 static linear load case refers to more than one load pattern, than the static
linear load cases are imported into Revit Structure as load combinations, in place of the
SAP2000 load combinations. The following SAP2000 load case attributes are imported into
Revit Structure:
Load Case Name: The same name is used in Revit.
Load Patterns: Set the list of Revit Structure load cases. Load patterns not imported are
not included in the Revit list.
Load Pattern Factors: Identical load case factors are used in Revit, unless the load
pattern list includes load patterns that were not exported. Their factors are not imported
into Revit.
SAP2000 load cases that are not static or are not linear are not imported into Revit
Structure.
63
Load Combinations
If all the SAP2000 static linear load case each refer to a single load pattern, then the
SAP2000 load combinations are exported as Revit Structure load combinations. When load
combinations are exported, their following attributes are exported:
Load Combination Name: The same name is used in Revit.
Load Cases: Sets the list of Revit load cases. The Revit list is made of the load pattern
names that each load case in the SAP2000 list refers to. Load patterns not imported are
not included in the Revit list.
Load Case Factors: If all the load cases in the list of load cases refer to their load patterns
with a scale factor of 1, the same load case factors are used in Revit. If any load case
refers to a load pattern with a scale factor other than 1, the Revit load case factors are
adjusted accordingly. Scale factors for load patterns not imported are not included.
64
Procedures
Exporting from Revit Structure to create a new SAP2000 Model
IMPORTANT NOTE: CSiXRevit only exports the analytical models of Revit Structure elements. All
the analytical models of all Revit Structure elements must be correctly connected to others to
ensure the stability of the SAP2000 model generated.
The following steps describe how to export a Revit Structure analytical model into SAP2000:
1. With Revit Structure running, open a project you want to export.
2. From the Revit Structure menu, select Tools>External Tools>Export to Create
New ETABS or SAP2000 Model.
3. CSiXRevit counts the objects in the Revit project and displays the Export to Create
New ETABS or SAP2000 Model dialog:
Select the types of elements to send to SAP2000. If you have selected some
objects prior to starting the command and wish to only export those objects,
check the corresponding box at the bottom of the dialog.
Once you have made your selections, click OK.
65
The Exporting to Create New ETABS or SAP 2000 Model message box is shown
and displays the progress of the export:
4. Once the process has run its course, click OK. You are now asked to select a file
name. The file will be given the extension .EXR.
5. Start SAP2000 if it is not already running. If it is already running and you want to
retain the changes you made to the current model, save the current model.
SAP2000 always creates a new model when importing an .exr file.
6. Select a SAP2000 unit system. If any issues arise during the import part of the
exchange, SAP2000 generates a log file in which the locations of the problematic
objects are reported in meters if you select metric units, or in feet otherwise.
7. From the menu, select File>Import>Revit Structure .exr File. The Import Revit
Structure .exr file dialog is displayed. Click the Select EXR File button, and select
the .exr file to import.
66
A summary of its contents is displayed:
If any of the framing member family type names in the Revit Structure project do
not match any of the SAP2000 section profile names listed in AISC13.pro, the
dialog includes a table listing all the unrecognized types:
The default SAP2000 profile selected in the right column for each unrecognized
type in the left column is the closest alphabetical match in AISC13.pro (or
AISC13M.pro depending on the unit system in use when the import began).
67
8. Click the Add Sections File button to load additional SAP2000 section properties
databases (.PRO file). Alternately, you can directly edit the default filename in the
field next to the button, pressing the TAB key when you are done. The Revit types
that now have a name match like C250X30 in the example above are removed
from the list:
9. For each unknown Revit type in the left column, if the corresponding SAP2000
section profile in the right column is not the right one, choose another one from
the drop-down list of predefined profiles:
68
None SAP properties are always available at the top of the list.
SAP2000 saves your choices in a file which has an .EXRMap extension. Importing
the same Revit project again restores your choices.
10. Select what to import by checking or unchecking the relevant check boxes.
(When checking Area Loads, you will receive a reminder that Area Loads cannot
be imported into the current version of SAP2000.)
11. Click the Import in SAP2000 button.
After a few moments, SAP2000 displays the newly imported model.
12. If any issues arise during the import part of the exchange, you will be prompted
to review the log file. Please do.
69
Importing from SAP2000 to create a new Revit Structure Project

The following steps describe how to export a SAP2000 model to create a new Revit Structure
project:
1. With SAP2000 running, open a model you want to export.
2. Select File>Export>Revit Structure .exr File. The Export Revit Structure .exr File
dialog is displayed. It includes a summary of the model contents on the left side
and a table with level names on the right side:
Unlike Revit, which is geared towards building structures, SAP2000, which is a

general purpose analysis program, does not include the concept of story levels.
Therefore Revit levels need to be created when a SAP2000 model is imported
into Revit. The dialog gives you control over which levels are created, their
names, their elevations, and how exported SAP2000 elements are assigned to
them in Revit.
70
3. If the joints in the SAP2000 model occur at a large number of different z

elevations, you will probably want to create Revit levels only for a small subset of
these elevations. In that case, uncheck the check box at the top of the levels
table. It unchecks all the levels at once:
4. Check the box next to each story level you want created. As you check levels,
SAP2000 computes default cutoff elevations and displays them in the At or
Below field. SAP2000 shell elements are imported into Revit as walls, floors, or
ramps and SAP2000 frame and cable elements are imported into Revit as
columns, beams or braces. The top and bottom levels of these Revit walls,
columns and braces, and the reference levels of these beams and slabs are
assigned based on the relationship between the level cutoff elevations and the zcoordinates of the joints defining the original SAP2000 elements.
You can override any cutoff elevation by typing over a new elevation and pressing
the TAB key as long as you do not set it lower than the corresponding level
elevation, or higher than the elevation of the next level to be created above.
71
Likewise, you can rename any level by typing a new name, and change its
elevation by typing a new elevation:
SAP2000 saves your level data in a file which has an .EXRMap extension.
Exporting the same SAP20000 model again restores your level data.
5. Select what to export by checking or unchecking the relevant check boxes.
6. The Metric check box controls the units in which level elevations are displayed,
the family names of the concrete section types created in Revit, and the units of
the log file.
7. By default, the .exr file written is written in the same folder as the model and its
name is the name of the model with an .EXR extension. To save the .exr file in a
different folder or under a different name, click the Save As... button.
Alternately, you can directly edit the default filename in the field next to the
button, pressing the TAB key when you are done.
8. Click the Create EXR File button.
9. If any issues arise during the export part of the exchange, you will be prompted
to review the log file. Please take a moment to do so.
72
You are now ready to import the .exr file in Revit Structure. You import an .exr file
written by SAP2000 exactly like an .exr file written by ETABS:
10. Start Revit Structure.
11. Create a new Revit Structure project. Note while it isnt required, the import will
come in much faster if your Revit Structure template already contains all the
column, beam, brace, slab and wall family types you would like SAP2000 sections
to map to.
12. From the menu, select Add-Ins>External Tools>Import to Create New Revit
Structure Project from ETABS or SAP2000. Select the .exr file to import.
CSiXRevit attempts to locate and load family types that are not already loaded.
13. The Import to Create New Revit Structure Project from ETABS/SAP2000 dialog is
displayed:
On the left side, you can control the types of SAP2000 elements to import into
the new Revit project.
73
Under Mapping Options, click the Frame Sections button, to see the Frame
Section Mapping dialog:
Changes to the mapping of SAP2000 sections to Revit sections can be made here.
All Revit column beam and brace families currently loaded are displayed in the
drop down lists.
74
Clicking the Floor Sections button displays the Floor Section Mapping dialog:
Changes to the mapping of SAP2000 floor sections to Revit sections can be made
here. All Revit floor families currently loaded are displayed in the drop down lists.
Clicking the Wall Sections button displays the Wall Section Mapping dialog:
75
Changes to the mapping of SAP2000 wall sections to Revit sections can be made
here. All Revit wall families currently loaded are displayed in the drop down lists.
14. Once you have set up all of your mapping, select the OK button. After a few
moments, your Revit project is displayed.
15. If any issues arise during the import part of the exchange, you will be prompted
to review the log file. Please take a moment to do so.
76
Known Limitations with CSiXRevit and SAP2000

1. Windows with UAC: With strict UAC (User Account Control), users must Run as
Administrator (for SAP2000.exe and Revit.exe). If Revit Structure is not run as
administrator, it is possible CSiXRevit will not be able to open the .log file. In this
case, CSiXRevit will not write any warnings to the log file but all warning messages
will be displayed on the screen. Directly sending data to SAP2000 may not work if
Revit Structure is not run as administrator.
2. In the case of shell and plane elements that are neither vertical nor horizontal, floors
with a slope are created in Revit. While their slope is initially set correctly, Revit
subsequently resets it to a different value. The correct slope is available as a shared
parameter named Computed slope and you need to reset the slope of the floor to
this parameter value.
3. Materials imported into Revit Structure from SAP2000 may not always be properly
mapped or the property values may not always be properly transferred. For this
reason, material mapping and material property values should always be carefully
checked in Revit Structure after importing from SAP2000.
4. See other limitations described in the previous sections for SAP2000.
77

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SAP2000, ETABSand Revit Structure 2014

Data Exchange Documentation

ISO XRV070113M1 Rev. 0

Export from Revit Structure to create a new ETABS or SAP2000 model.

ETABS (or SAP2000)

Import from ETABS or SAP2000 to create a new Revit Structure project.

Revit Structure and ETABS Data Exchange

Transfers geometry, offsets, cardinal points,

Steel Column and

Creates and maps equivalent ETABS frame

Slanted walls not imported.

Sloped floors with more than four outer

Floor Family Types

Creates fixed joint restraints in ETABS

Non-uniform area loads not imported.

Structural Columns and Framing

Figure 1: Import of sections from section property files (.XML files)

Figure 2: Adding /Removing XML files when importing into ETABS

Figure 3: Section mapping file

Table 1: Parameters used in ETABS

In-place family members

ETABS Deck Section

ETABS Load Case Type

ETABS Auto Select Lists

Exporting from Revit Structure to update an existing ETABS model

Creates equivalent ETABS materials.

Maps to ETABS database sections.

Creates fixed joint restraints in ETABS wherever a

Walls with changing number of sides are

Floor openings with changing number of sides

Importing from ETABS to create a new Revit Structure Project

Imports Concrete and Steel materials into Revit

Creates and maps equivalent Revit sections.

Creates equivalent Revit point line loads and

Mapping of ETABS section types to Revit families:

Beams and Braces

Importing from ETABS to Update an Existing Revit Structure Project

Creates and maps equivalent Revit sections.

Updates changes to column locations only for

Updates Beam, Column and Brace section

Updates floor type assignments; however floor

Area loads moved in ETABS are replaced.

Non-rectangular wall openings are not deleted.

deleted in ETABS are not deleted.

Exporting from ETABS to Create/Update a New/Existing Revit Structure Project

4. Start Revit Structure.

Reviewing the Log File (.log)

Changed Beam end reactions for the following elements:

Known Limitations with CSiXRevit and ETABS

Revit Structure and SAP2000 Data Exchange

Does not transfer reinforcement properties.

Transfers geometry, cardinal points, and end

Loads equivalent SAP2000 section profiles

Imports floors as SAP000 shell elements with

Creates SAP2000 joints if the load does not

Table 2: Parameters used in SAP2000

In-place Family Members

SAP2000 Load Case Type

Importing from SAP2000 to create a new Revit Structure Project

Creates as columns in Revit. Cardinal point, end

Does not transfer frame element.

Imports as walls in Revit.

Imports in Revit as floors with a slope. Slope

Does not transfer.